View and Remove Photo Metadata on Windows
Windows File Explorer has a built-in way to view and remove photo metadata. You don't need to install anything.
1. View photo metadata
- Open File Explorer. You can also press Windows key + E.
- Right-click the photo file and choose Properties.
- Open the Details tab.
Scroll down and you'll see fields such as Date taken, Camera maker, Camera model and Exposure time. If the GPS section shows Latitude and Longitude, the photo contains a location. If there's no GPS section at all, it doesn't.
2. Remove photo metadata
- At the bottom of the same Details tab, click Remove Properties and Personal Information.
- Choose one of the two options.
- Create a copy with all possible properties removed: leaves the original untouched and creates a cleaned copy in the same folder. Recommended if you're doing this for the first time.
- Remove the following properties from this file: removes metadata directly from the original. You can tick only the fields you want, such as Latitude and Longitude.
- Click OK.
To process several photos at once, select multiple files together and then open Properties.
Which fields to remove
If you're picking fields to remove from the original, use this as a guide.
| Always remove | Latitude, Longitude and Altitude in the GPS section. They can reveal where you live or places you visit regularly. |
|---|---|
| Depends on the photo | Date taken, Authors, Copyright. Remove them if the date is sensitive or your real name appears in the Authors field. |
| Usually fine to keep | Camera model, exposure, resolution. Remove them too if you'd rather not have your device identified. |
If in doubt, the simplest approach is to send the copy with everything removed. The picture the recipient sees is exactly the same.
3. Things to know
- Removing fields directly from the original can't be undone. If you need to keep the original, use the copy option.
- What can be removed depends on the file format. It works best with JPEG; with some formats, certain fields won't be removed or the option may not appear at all.
- Even "all possible properties removed" can leave some information behind in certain files. For important photos, check again after removing.
The Windows Photos app doesn't show a location. Does that mean there isn't one?
No. Just because the Photos app's info panel doesn't show a location doesn't mean the file has none. Each app shows different fields, so the Details tab in the file's Properties, or a dedicated tool, gives a more accurate answer.
Checklist before sending
- Check the Details tab in Properties for a GPS section.
- If there is one, make a copy with Create a copy with all possible properties removed.
- Open the copy's Properties and confirm the GPS section is gone.
- Send the copy, whose name ends in "- Copy", not the original.
Picking the original by mistake at the last step is the most common slip. Renaming the copy helps avoid mix-ups.
To verify the result, open the copy in PhotoBookInfo. Any fields that remain will appear under "Full metadata". PhotoBookInfo's own Save clean copy also re-reads the saved copy and tells you how many metadata entries are left.
Check what your photo is carryingPhotoBookInfo reads photos inside your browser and never uploads them. It tells you if a location is stored and makes a clean copy for you.
Check a photo